The wedding ceremony is also FULL of emotion! Not just from the couple, but of the family and friends looking on, and enjoying this moment with you.
Sometimes there are random moments in between that are funny, exciting and emotional as well.
*See the little girl below
This next image is one of my absolute favorite images that tell (almost) a complete story in one frame. I mean “almost” because only the couple and the wedding attendees know that on that phone is the grooms parents whom could not attend the wedding in California because of an illness, so their son (and siblings and other family) did a FaceTime call with them from Japan so they could share in their son’s celebration.
That is the groom’s brother getting emotional in the background.
This next image is a favorite of mine because it not only tells a complete story of family and tradition, it also incorporates emotion and love for this bride by the women in her family.
Wedding toasts to the couple often illicit a lot of emotion…
Being tall has its benefits. I can “fight” my way into the fun and crazy dance floor and get photos up and over showing all the fun!
Just because we are wearing pretty clothes doesn’t mean sometimes it doesn’t get a bit wild
Before you sign the contract for your photographer be sure to do a complete review of their ability to tell stories, especially in a fast moving and difficult environment such as a wedding.
What you are looking for in a wedding photographer is that they are very well rounded in their photographic abilities. Each wedding photographer will have their strengths and weaknesses. They will have areas of your day where they are stronger than others. Even I do. Some photographers are amazing portrait artists, but may not be the best photographer to capture your wedding details in a creative way. Or, perhaps, a photographer is very talented at photojournalism, capturing emotion and telling the story of your wedding, but perhaps is not very strong in the area of portraits.
The best way to determine if you are choosing the perfect photographer for your wedding is to interview them first, but also to ask to see at least three FULL wedding galleries that they have delivered to their couples. Preferably at the venue you are getting married at, or one that is similar. This way you get an opportunity to see how well rounded your photographer is. How do they capture moments? What do the getting ready moments look like? How do they capture the details of your wedding? Are they good at posing your wedding party and family portraits? How proficient are they at night, at your reception, when there is no natural light and they have to modify light with flash? All of these areas of your day require a specific skillset. This skillset is not developed overnight, so be careful hiring a photographer with little experience, or one that is just a “weekend warrior” that has a full time job during the week, but shoots an occasional wedding on the weekend. Being a skilled, well rounded wedding photographer requires thousands of hours of doing it over and over and over and over again.
On a wedding day your photographer is a photojournalist (candids and storytelling), a portrait photographer, a landscape photographer, a food and product photographer (all the details of your wedding including rings, shoes, flowers, reception details, etc), a family portrait photographer (family portrait sessions), a child photographer, etc. Your photographer has to be proficient at controlling light in difficult situations such as window light, high noon harsh sunlight, super dark reception rooms at night, and they have to be able to think quickly on their feet, moving from room to room, indoors to outdoors, light to dark areas, and have the ability to adjust exposure and modify light very quickly in an often times chaotic and fast moving environment.
Basically, your wedding photographer has to be very good at thinking on their feet, adjusting quickly, great at problem solving, easy under intense pressure of a fast moving timeline, ready to capture images of moments that are fleeting and will never return again. No do overs!
